4 Days in London: A Practical Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Day 1: Westminster and the West End

Morning — Westminster. Start at Westminster Abbey, the coronation church of English and British monarchs for nearly a thousand years and the resting place of many famous figures. Outside, the Houses of Parliament and the Elizabeth Tower — home of the bell known as Big Ben — line the river. For the classic photo, walk to the middle of Westminster Bridge.

Late morning — Buckingham Palace. Walk through St James's Park, one of the prettiest royal parks, to Buckingham Palace. The Changing of the Guard draws big crowds and doesn't happen every day, so check the official schedule and arrive early for a good spot.

Afternoon — Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery. Nelson's Column watches over Trafalgar Square, and the National Gallery on its north side is free to enter, with masterpieces from Van Eyck to Van Gogh.

Evening — Covent Garden and the West End. Wander Covent Garden's piazza and street performers, then see a show in the West End. Same-day and discounted tickets are sometimes available at the official TKTS booth in Leicester Square.

💡 Plan it in RoamerPlanner: add your theatre tickets as an attachment on an evening Attraction card, with the theatre's address and a note on what time the doors open.

Day 2: The Tower, the South Bank and St Paul's

Morning — Tower of London. Arrive at opening time and head straight for the Crown Jewels before the queues build. Then join a tour led by a Yeoman Warder (the “Beefeaters”), see the White Tower and look out for the ravens. Afterwards, walk across Tower Bridge; the high-level walkways, with their glass floors, are part of a separate ticketed exhibition.

Lunch — Borough Market. Walk along the river to Borough Market, one of London's oldest and best food markets, and graze your way around.

Afternoon — The South Bank. Continue west along the Thames past Shakespeare's Globe, a reconstruction of the Elizabethan playhouse, to Tate Modern, a free modern art museum in a former power station. Cross the Millennium Bridge to St Paul's Cathedral, Christopher Wren's masterpiece; climb to the Whispering Gallery and the outer galleries for views.

Evening: For a free skyline view, book a slot at the Sky Garden in the City in advance, or continue along the South Bank to the London Eye at dusk.

Day 3: Museums, Kensington and Notting Hill

Morning — The British Museum. Free to enter, the British Museum covers two million years of human history. Focus on a few highlights: the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, the Egyptian mummies and the Sutton Hoo treasure. Some museums ask you to book a free timed entry slot at busy times.

Afternoon — South Kensington. Take the Tube to South Kensington, where three free museums stand side by side: the Natural History Museum (dinosaurs and the blue whale skeleton in Hintze Hall), the Science Museum and the V&A, the world's leading museum of art and design. Pick one or two.

Late afternoon — Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Walk through Hyde Park past the Serpentine to Kensington Palace and the Italian Gardens.

Evening — Notting Hill. End in Notting Hill's pastel-coloured streets. Portobello Road Market is at its biggest on Saturdays; on other days the shops and cafés are still worth a visit.

Day 4: Greenwich — or Camden and East London

Option A — Greenwich. Take the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers downriver — a sightseeing trip in itself — to Greenwich, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stand on the prime meridian at the Royal Observatory, explore the Cutty Sark tea clipper and the National Maritime Museum, and enjoy the view of Canary Wharf from the top of Greenwich Park.

Option B — Camden, Regent's Canal and Shoreditch. Browse Camden Market's food stalls and vintage shops, then walk the Regent's Canal towpath west towards Little Venice. In the evening, head east to Shoreditch and Brick Lane for street art, curry houses and bars.

Day trip alternative: Windsor Castle, a working royal residence, is easy by train from central London. Check the castle's opening days before you go.

Where to Stay in London

Stay within a short walk of a Tube station, ideally on a line that serves your arrival airport or station.

• Covent Garden / Soho: central and lively, walking distance to theatres and Westminster.
• South Bank: river views and a short walk to many Day 1 and Day 2 sights.
• South Kensington: elegant and quieter, next to the big museums and Hyde Park.
• Bloomsbury / King's Cross: good value for central London, near the British Museum and the Eurostar at St Pancras.

Getting Around London

• Contactless or Oyster: tap in and out with a contactless bank card, phone or Oyster card on the Tube, buses, DLR and Overground. Daily and weekly fare caps mean you never pay more than a set amount. Buses don't take cash.
• Walking: many central sights are closer than the Tube map suggests.
• From Heathrow (LHR): the Elizabeth line, the Piccadilly line or the Heathrow Express. From Gatwick (LGW): the Gatwick Express, Thameslink or Southern trains.
• On the escalators: stand on the right, walk on the left.

Practical Tips

• Many visitors who don't need a visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK. Check the rules for your passport on GOV.UK.
• London weather changes quickly: pack layers and a light waterproof whatever the season.
• Many major museums are free; donations are welcome, and temporary exhibitions usually charge.
• Book the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and the Sky Garden in advance in busy seasons.

FAQ

Is 4 days enough for London?

Yes, for a first visit. Four days covers the main landmarks, two or three museums and a day for markets, the river or Greenwich. Add a fifth day for a day trip to Windsor, Oxford or Bath.

Do I need an Oyster card?

Not usually. Contactless bank cards and phones pay the same pay-as-you-go fares with the same daily caps. An Oyster card can help if your card charges foreign transaction fees.

Which London museums are free?

Many of the big ones, including the British Museum, the National Gallery, Tate Modern, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the V&A. Special exhibitions usually charge.

Can I add Paris to a London trip?

Yes — the Eurostar runs from St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord in a little over two hours. See our 3 days in Paris itinerary.